Thousands of young Manitoba drivers are eligible to win laptop computers, iPods and educational scholarships offered as prizes in this year’s Manitoba Public Insurance Driver Ed Challenge.

This year’s Challenge, the fifth annual, kicks off Sept. 28. Students can enter by successfully completing an online driving quiz on this website ? www.mpi.mb.ca. But in order to win the Driver Ed Challenge, participants must navigate three distinct tests: an on-line quiz, regional road test and a driving skills finale.

The grand prize is a $1,500 educational scholarship. Second and third place finishers receive scholarships of $1,000 and $500, respectively. More than 30,000 high school students throughout the province are eligible.

“This is a unique, educational contest designed specifically to improve the knowledge and skill level of novice drivers,” said Lou Gervino, Manager of Driver Education and Improvement for Manitoba Public Insurance. “There is no charge to enter the program and we know that students from communities throughout Manitoba are taking the challenge.”

Gervino explained that 50 of the top qualifiers advance to the championship final scheduled to take place at Winnipeg’s Red River Exhibition grounds in May 2008. A series of skill-testing driving courses will be set up at the site. Last year’s winner was Dragos Mutascu of Winnipeg.

The Driver Ed Challenge is open to every current Drivers Ed student at least 15 and a half years old who holds a learner’s licence, and to graduates of the Driver Education program who are still in high school and hold a learner’s or intermediate licence. Complete information about the contest can be obtained from any Manitoba Public Insurance Driver Education instructor and this web site: www.mpi.mb.ca.

About Manitoba Public Insurance

Manitoba Public Insurance is a nonprofit Crown Corporation that has provided basic automobile coverage since 1971. Services are available throughout Manitoba in claim centres and Customer Service centres. For more information visit http://www.mpi.mb.ca.